Tag Archives: family

december snapshots

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December was a fun month.

Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, a visit from Papa, Christmas cookie-baking, house-decorating, Evie food making, learning to crawl (..Evie), Santa visiting & best of all … ending the month with wonderful Christmas visits with family in Wisconsin and Ohio!

If you’d like to follow me on instagram to see (many) more photos, request to follow abartowi.

snapshots, oct 26-21

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If you’d like to see even more photos, as they happen, request to follow me on Instagram. My username is abartowi.

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post-nap smiles, shopping with mommy, first time in a high chair, first high school football game, first pumpkin patch, hanging out with Rilo the dog

sitting at the table like a big girl, walking home from yoga with mommy, belly laughs with daddy, yummy pumpkin cake from Laurel, duplicate Evie/Rilo pic (just too cute), quality time with Uncle Chris

classic fall in oakwood, first solid foods bought from the market, out to brunch with daddy, all tuckered out.

snapshots, sep 10-25

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If you’d like to see even more photos, as they happen, request to follow me on Instagram. My username is abartowi.

packer time! – making cookies for Maggie in Afghanistan – time with Grandma & Papa – first finger painting – first project (that mommy did) for school – anniversary date night for Michael and I – dragon fruit

awolnation concert with adam & erika – peeking in on our sleeping girl at the concert – ND game – the crowd showing off their leis for Manti Te’o – playing at the park

Bobbi babysits! – hanging out with Katelyn – outside on the stoop with Mommy after work – playing with Sahra – Michael being matchy-matchy – mirror time with Mommy

Evie meets the family

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We drove up to Wisconsin for a long weekend so that Evie could meet the extended family & so they could meet her. First of all, she was a complete angel in the car. We left around her bedtime, and she slept the entire way. We only stopped once (for gas).

Evie is pretty easy going, but even this many people was still a shock to her.

“Daddy has HOW many family members?”

Evie meeting Michael’s godson for the first time.

Taking everything in.

I think she likes him.

Ben, the prince.

and Briahna … I forget which member of the royal family she is.

But she sure loved Evie.

… and Evie loved her.

Evie & Ericha

She seemed to be a pro at holding babies.

Evie & her cousin Owen, who was born in September 2011.

They will be in the same grade level.

Grandpa, I’ve had a long day … and it’s only lunchtime!

Kisses from cousin Jackson.

Girl talk with Ericha.

Finishing up lunch at the Barto household.

From Michael’s point of view:

My point of view:

“Whoooa.”

“Whooop.”

“Oh goodness.”

“Oh, that’s going to be a 3-wiper.”

“I wonder if they can tell.”

“Bleghh… I can taste it.”

“I wonder if they’ll believe me…”

“… if I say this guy did it.”

Grandpa with his 2 youngest grandkids.

Art in action.

A new approach to crawling.

THE best pouty face, courtesy of Ben.

O-baby!

Jax

My hot hubs.

Tickling O-Baby.

Serious Jackson.

Ben showing his skills.

He did that himself … Briahna went over to help :)

Goofball Ben.

Aunt Becca

She liked Pat so much …

… she decided he was a good place to take a nap.

Here she is, in the middle of the night.

Waking up with Grandpa.

Ready to face the day.

Trying out an Exersaucer for the first time.

Naptime before the big cookout.

Smiles for Mama.

Smiles for Daddy.

And so begins Evie’s introduction to the family! Evie & Sara:

Evie & Aunt Lottie

Evie & Erica

Evie & Aunt Cathy

Evie & Riah

Whew! Evie had a long day!

The next morning, before church:

Such a happy morning baby.

She smiled at daddy peeking in through the window:

Comfy in her hoodie, ready for a day in the car.

But first, we met sweet, 4-day old Isabella.

and her parents got to meet Evie as well!

There’s a big difference between 4 weeks and 4 months!

Then we started our drive home. During the first stop to feed Evie, we let her play outside while we ate. It made her happy and it was nice to take a break from being in the car.

We had so much fun in Wisconsin, seeing everyone again! By the look of these pictures, Evie had a pretty great time, too, meeting her family :) She’s a blessed little girl.

(Aug 9-12, 2012)

definition of dote

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1. to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually.
2. to show a decline of mental faculties, especially associated with old age.
I’m sure I could do a post focusing on my personal experience with #2, but let’s focus on #1 for now.

Evelyn is pretty used to being doted upon by now, so this was nothing new for her.  The weekend after she was baptized (8 weeks old; she is now 10 weeks), we drove up to visit my parents & sister, and introduce her to some family friends.

She’s so comfortable in her Aunt Emily’s arms.

Being the center of attention is downright exhausting.

We lured visitors to the house with the promise of food & a cute baby.

Loving the attention from her Aunt Em.

What? Mom! Go away … I’m telling Aunt Em all of my secrets.

OK, Daddy. I guess you can hear my secrets.

Pensive on the patio.

For some reason, everyone wore Evelyn’s sunhat but Evelyn herself.

Put the hat back on. It was a better look.

Even Grandma tried it on.

Mommy just snickered & drank her margarita.

Here’s Dad, cooking steaks as large as our heads.

All snuggled up and safe in Grandma’s arms.

Papa’s turn.

~ Love ~

God Bless Evelyn

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The day Evelyn turned 7 weeks old, she was baptized at the University of Notre Dame, our alma mater.

We knew we were going to be on campus for a friend’s wedding on Friday. So, we checked availability of the Log Chapel on Sunday & the availability of Michael’s friend, Matt. Matt was Michael’s RA in college and was ordained as a Holy Cross priest the week before Evelyn was born. He is currently living in Mexico as the priest of a very large parish. We were very lucky that he was able to make time in his extremely busy schedule to be with us on campus and welcome Evie into the Church.

These pictures are a mash-up of ones that Michael, Michael’s parents, my sister and I had taken that weekend.

Here is Michael, giving Evelyn a bottle.

Evie was very reluctant when we first introduced bottles. It took a few days of adamant protesting on her part. Soon, however, she was quickly gulping them down! I’m happy that she enjoys her bottles, so other special people in her life can feed her while I get a break! It’s also great practice for when I go back to work (on July 10), when I’ll be pumping in the office and Evie will be taking bottles during the day.

…And here is our pretty girl, wearing her first hair accessory and her absolutely gorgeous, handmade dress by Grandma Barto! I love the dress. It’s a floral fabric with tiny royal blue flowers and green leaves, with royal blue lining & a ribbon sash (the flower also goes on the sash). I wish we had gotten a better picture of it, but it definitely has room for her to grow … so she will be wearing it many more times! She’s wearing it here for her brief cameo at the wedding we attended on Friday. Grandma & Grandpa Barto babysat her in the hotel room upstairs for the rest of the night while we partied it up :)

Bottle time with Grandpa.

Taking a break from the party to wish my little girl a good night.

Evelyn got to see her 3 cousins again, since they made the trip for the baptism! Here is O-Baby.

O-Baby & his beautiful mama.

O-Baby was about 8 months old when these pictures were taken.

Cousins.

Girl talk with Aunt Becca.

Always smiling for her daddy!

Modeling her pretty summer dress & match espadrilles.Thank you, Tim & Lana!

Meeting Grams for the first time. Michael’s grandma has 33 great-grandchildren & Evelyn is her 31st.  That’s right … there have been two great-grandkids born since Evie! Easton was the 32nd and Rafael was the 33rd, I believe.

Grams & Evie having a very serious discussion.

O-Baby is a strong baby!

Hard to believe that in a matter of months, Evie will have strength & head control like her cousin.

Later that day, going to CJ’s pub for some burgers and meeting Father Matt.

Ben loves Baby Evie.

Squinty Jackson snuggling with his mommy.

Grandpa checkin’ in with Evie.

*Love* this picture of Evie with her Aunt Em.

Lottie & Ben

Michael (Emily’s Michael :) … let’s call him Michael D.), Emily, Carley & Chris.

Naptime close to her daddy.

Ben-jammin’

Brothers.

Ben .. probably been a cutie again.

Michael and his Godson … and Evie.

It seems every time I look, this baby has a smile on his face.

Baptism morning! Smiles during a diaper change with Grandma.

Notre Dame’s Log Chapel … a replica of the one built in 1831.

Grandma holding Evelyn in her baptismal gown. Evelyn is the third generation to wear this gown. My grandma (my mom’s mom) made the gown for her four children, including my mom. Then I wore it, then my brother, and then my sister. It hadn’t been worn for 21 years, but it was still pristine & beautiful.

Grandma & Papa

The sign of the cross

Evie’s Godfather.

She was so calm while having water poured on her. She likes having her hair washed! Father Matt made sure the holy water was warm, and that made all the difference.

Chris (Godfather), Becca (Godmother), me & Michael.

The newest member of the Church!

Little family of three.

Thank you, Father Matt!

With the Godparents.

Three generations.

Kisses from Grams.

Log Chapel steeple

Everyone walking down to the grotto … Jackson was smart and hitched a ride with Michael D.

Michael, Jackson & Mike lighting a candle.

Our little angel.

…Love these pictures of our family… Mom, Dad, me, Evie, Emily & Chris.

Evelyn is so lucky that her great-grandma came to her baptism! We all love Grams very much.

A close-up of Evie’s gown.

Baptism brunch at Tippecanoe Place … relaxin’ with Papa & Aunt Em.

Observing from her perch on Grandpa’s shoulder.

Grams, beautiful as always.

O-Baby having a ball, bouncing with Grandpa.

Just missing Jeremy, Tina & Lucas!

Thanks to Mom, Dad, Chris, Carley, Emily & Michael …. Grams, Lottie, Michael’s parents, Becca, Mike, Jackson, Ben & Owen for making the trip to campus for Evelyn’s baptism! It was a wonderful weekend and we feel so blessed by your love & presence in her life (our lives).